Pope John IV

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John IV
Birth name	???
Papacy began	December 24, 640
Papacy ended	October 12, 642
Predecessor	Severinus
Successor	Theodore I
Born	??? Dalmatia
Died	October 12, 642 ???
Other popes named John

Pope John IV (died of cancer^{[citation needed]}, October 12, 642) was elected pope, after a four-month sede vacante, December 24, 640.

John was a native of Dalmatia, and the son of the scholasticus (advocate) Venantius. At the time of his election he was archdeacon of the Roman Church, an important role in governing the see. As John's consecration (on November 24) followed very soon after his election, it is supposed that the papal elections were being confirmed by the Exarch of Ravenna rather than by the Emperor in Constantinople.

Troubles in his native land, caused by invasions of Slavs, directed John's attention there. To alleviate the distress of the inhabitants, John sent the abbot Martin into Dalmatia and Istria with large sums of money for the redemption of captives. As the ruined churches could not be rebuilt, the relics of some of the more important Dalmatian saints were brought to Rome. John erected an oratory in their honour which still stands. It was adorned by the pope with mosaics depicting John himself holding in his hands a model of his oratory. John apparently did not content himself with palliating the evils wrought by the Slavs. He endeavoured to convert these barbarians. Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus says that Porga, duke of the Dalmatian Croats, who had been invited into Dalmatia by Heraclius, sent to an Emperor Heraclius for Christian teachers. It is supposed that the emperor to whom this message was sent was Emperor Heraclius himself, and that he sent to Pope John IV.

While still only pope-elect, John, with the other rulers of the Roman Church, wrote to the clergy of the North of Ireland to tell them of the mistakes they were making with regard to the time of keeping Easter, and exhorting them to be on their guard against the Pelagian heresy. About the same time he condemned Monothelism. Emperor Heraclius immediately disowned the Monothelite document known as the "Ecthesis". To Heraclius' son, Constantine III, John addressed his apology for Pope Honorius I, in which he deprecated the attempt to connect the name of Honorius with Monothelism. Honorius, he declared, in speaking of one will in Jesus, only meant to assert that there were not two contrary wills in Him.

John was buried in the Basilica of St. Peter.

[edit] External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope John IV
• Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church

Roman Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Severinus	Pope 640–642	Succeeded by Theodore I

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